Does anyone understand the cap situation?

I was reading an article on Bleacher Report that was breaking down the cap situation. It listed the UFAs and RFAs on offensive and defense. Then it broke down the cap situation. Here is a bit of what it said:

Projected in total salary for players in 2013: $132 million

Projected dead money: $6.5 million

League collusion penalty: $5 million

Projected total cap spent: $143.5 million

NFL projected cap limit in 2013: $121 million

Available Cowboys cap space: -$22.5 million

Now, I don't know if their projected total salary on players is taking into account who they would resign of the available UFAs and RFAs and the projected amount of the contracts. I also don't know how it would be possible to get ANY free agent if we have a negative available cap space. And I don't get how cutting players still under contract would free up cap space since it would cost a cap hit.

So, hypothetically, if we were to cut ties with the majority of our UFAs and RFAs, does anyone know if we would even have money to sign additional free agents? And if so, how much money? I really have no idea how the cap works. I'm just going into the offseason assuming we won't have any new players next season aside from our draft picks.

Don't know much about our cap situation, but I know a thing or two about Bleacher Report. Move on.

Haha. Well, I know Bleacher Report isn't the most credible. But I also know that we don't have much cap space (if any) to work with. I was just wondering if anyone knew the numbers and realistically how much we could afford. It's nice to say "let's sign this guy, trade for that guy, and draft that guy" but you also have to be realistic.

xwalker, I'm just a little confused by "players with contracts that can be restructered." All but 3 of those players would have a positive impact if restructered, but 3 of those players (Ware, Carr and Austin) have a negative impact and thus make the restructuring of all those contracts barely useful. So why would you include Ware, Carr and Austin? Wouldn't it be in our best interest to restructure everyone besides them?

xwalker, I'm just a little confused by "players with contracts that can be restructered." All but 3 of those players would have a positive impact if restructered, but 3 of those players (Ware, Carr and Austin) have a negative impact and thus make the restructuring of all those contracts barely useful. So why would you include Ware, Carr and Austin? Wouldn't it be in our best interest to restructure everyone besides them?

Carr will have a 2013 cap hit of $16.3 million. I would guess that is why he is showing that contract as likely to be restructured.

xwalker, I'm just a little confused by "players with contracts that can be restructered." All but 3 of those players would have a positive impact if restructered, but 3 of those players (Ware, Carr and Austin) have a negative impact and thus make the restructuring of all those contracts barely useful. So why would you include Ware, Carr and Austin? Wouldn't it be in our best interest to restructure everyone besides them?

My guess is the hit woud be much worse if we did not restrcuture those contracts. I don't have the data in front of me to verify it though.

After restructuring, he will count approximately 5.8M against the 2013 cap.

That is an improvement of 10.5M; however, it is still 2.6M more than his 2012 cap hit and the reason for the negative in the 4th column.

Restructuring Carr doesn't concern me. The contracts of other players are what could make things interesting. Has Ratliff gone postal? If so and he is cut that is going to change some dynamics. What to do with Spencer? I don't trust him with a long term deal, but I don't know that I want to give him a 120% raise either(francise tag). Will be an interesting off-season on many fronts.

the biggest problem with the Cap is that it will not be going up for several years. That means the usual tactic of reworking a contract and pushing cap hits forward to when the cap will be higher will not work at this time.

So do you know the implications of cutting Ratliff? I know a lot of people are saying we should cut him. Would it save us any money if we did?

It appears that most or all of his 2013 base salary is guaranteed; therefore, cutting him now would not help the salary cap now or in the future. They could put him on IR all season for the same cap hit and cost in real dollars.

It appears that most or all of his 2013 base salary is guaranteed; therefore, cutting him now would not help the salary cap now or in the future. They could put him on IR all season for the same cap hit and cost in real dollars.

The bright side of this situation is that it doesn't look like it will hurt the team cap wise if they do need to jettison Jay Ratliff this off-season.

Rat's 2013 cap number ($7M) would only go up if Dallas opted to eat all of the remaining bonus money immediately (almost $10.87M).

I expect they would use the June 2nd rule to split the bonus money hit over two years, instead.

It'd be a big hit this year, $6.875M, but the team can deal with that.